Communication Archives — NIMBLE FOUNDATION BLOG

HOW TO KILL PUBLIC SPEAKING FEAR?

1) What are research findings of Stage Fright?

Stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, is a common phenomenon that affects many individuals across various performance contexts, including public speaking, musical performance, acting, and sports. Research into stage fright has yielded several key findings:

Prevalence and Demographics

Commonality: Stage fright is widespread, with studies indicating that it affects a significant portion of the population. It is estimated that about 75% of people experience some degree of anxiety when speaking in public.
Demographics: It affects individuals across all ages and professional backgrounds. However, certain populations, such as students, performers, and those new to a field, may report higher levels of anxiety.

Symptoms and Manifestations

Physical Symptoms: Common physical symptoms include sweating, trembling, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and dizziness. These symptoms are part of the body’s fight-or-flight response.
Cognitive Symptoms: Individuals may experience negative thoughts, fear of failure, self-doubt, and difficulty concentrating.
Behavioral Symptoms: Avoidance of performance situations, excessive preparation, or, conversely, inadequate preparation due to fear.

Causes and Contributing Factors

Biological Factors: Genetics and brain chemistry can play a role in an individual’s predisposition to anxiety. The amygdala, which processes fear, is often more active in those who experience higher levels of anxiety.
Psychological Factors: Personality traits such as perfectionism, low self-esteem, and high levels of neuroticism are associated with increased performance anxiety.
Environmental Factors: Past experiences, especially negative ones, can contribute to future anxiety. High stakes and pressure from peers, family, or audience can exacerbate symptoms.

Impact on Performance

Negative Impact: High levels of anxiety can impair performance by causing cognitive overload, reducing working memory capacity, and leading to errors or omissions.
Moderate Anxiety: Some research suggests that a moderate level of anxiety can enhance performance by increasing focus and motivation, often referred to as the Yerkes-Dodson law.
Intervention and Management Strategies

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is one of the most effective treatments for stage fright. It involves restructuring negative thought patterns and gradually exposing individuals to anxiety-provoking situations.
Medication: Beta-blockers and anti-anxiety medications can be used to manage physical symptoms, though they are typically recommended for severe cases and not as a first-line treatment.
Relaxation Techniques: Breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation can help reduce physical symptoms of anxiety.
Performance Preparation: Thorough preparation and rehearsal can increase confidence and reduce anxiety. Visualization and mental practice are also beneficial.
Support Systems: Peer support, coaching, and mentoring can provide reassurance and constructive feedback, reducing feelings of isolation and fear.

Recent Research Trends

Neuroscientific Approaches: Studies using neuroimaging techniques are exploring how brain activity changes in anxious performers and how interventions can modulate this activity.
Technology-Based Interventions: Virtual reality (VR) exposure therapy is emerging as a tool for helping individuals practice performances in a controlled, simulated environment.
Positive Psychology: Focusing on strengths, resilience, and positive emotions is gaining attention as a way to build confidence and reduce anxiety.

2) Causes of Stage Fright?

Stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, can be triggered by a variety of psychological, physiological, and situational factors. Here are some common causes:

Fear of Judgment or Rejection: Concern about how the audience will perceive and judge the performance is a primary cause of stage fright. This fear can stem from a desire for approval and a fear of negative evaluation.

Lack of Preparation: Insufficient practice or feeling unprepared can heighten anxiety. Knowing one is not fully ready for the performance can lead to increased nervousness.

Perfectionism: High personal standards and a fear of making mistakes can contribute to anxiety. Perfectionists may worry excessively about delivering a flawless performance.

Previous Negative Experiences: Past experiences of poor performances or negative feedback can create a lasting fear of similar situations, leading to heightened anxiety in future performances.

Biological Factors: Physiological responses to stress, such as increased adrenaline, heart rate, and cortisol levels, can cause physical symptoms of anxiety like trembling, sweating, and a racing heart.

High Stakes: The perceived importance of the performance can influence anxiety levels. Higher stakes can increase pressure and lead to more significant anxiety.

Lack of Experience: Inexperienced performers may feel more anxious due to unfamiliarity with the performance environment and the process.

Social Anxiety: Individuals who generally experience social anxiety may be more prone to stage fright, as performing in front of others can be particularly challenging.

Self-Doubt: Low self-confidence and self-esteem can lead to doubts about one’s abilities, increasing anxiety about performing well.

Audience Size and Composition: The size and nature of the audience can impact anxiety levels. Performing in front of a large, unfamiliar, or highly critical audience can be more intimidating.

3) How to prevent Stage Fright?

Stage fright, or performance anxiety, is a common experience that can be managed through various strategies. Here are some effective methods to prevent and reduce stage fright:

Preparation

Practice Regularly: The more familiar you are with your material, the more confident you will feel. Rehearse in front of a mirror, record yourself, or perform for friends or family.

Know Your Venue: Familiarize yourself with the performance space. If possible, visit the venue beforehand to get a sense of the layout and acoustics.

Visualize Success: Spend time imagining yourself giving a successful performance. Visualization can help build confidence and reduce anxiety.

Physical Techniques

Deep Breathing: Practice deep breathing exercises to calm your nervous system. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through your mouth.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tense and then relax different muscle groups in your body. This can help reduce physical tension caused by anxiety.

Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity to reduce overall stress levels and improve your mood.

Mental Techniques

Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remind yourself of past successes and focus on your strengths.

Stay Present: Focus on the present moment rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on past mistakes. Mindfulness techniques can help you stay grounded.

Set Realistic Goals: Aim for progress, not perfection. Setting achievable goals can help reduce pressure and build confidence.

Practical Tips

Arrive Early: Give yourself plenty of time to settle in and prepare before your performance. Rushing can increase anxiety.

Connect with the Audience: Make eye contact and engage with your audience. Remember, they are there to support you.

Use Notes Wisely: If appropriate, have notes or an outline to refer to during your performance. This can serve as a safety net and boost your confidence.

Long-Term Strategies

Perform Regularly: The more you perform, the more comfortable you will become. Seek out opportunities to practice in low-stakes environments.

Seek Feedback: Constructive feedback from trusted individuals can help you improve and build confidence over time.

Professional Help: If stage fright is significantly impacting your life, consider seeking help from a therapist or coach who specializes in performance anxiety.

Immediate Pre-Performance Tips

Warm-Up: Do vocal or physical warm-ups as appropriate for your performance.

Stay Hydrated and Eat Well: Maintain a balanced diet and stay hydrated to keep your energy levels up.

Dress Comfortably: Wear clothes that make you feel confident and comfortable.

4) How to practice your speech before facing the audience?

Practicing your speech before facing an audience is crucial for delivering a confident and effective presentation. Here are some steps and tips to help you practice effectively:

Understand Your Content

Know Your Material: Make sure you understand your speech thoroughly. Know the key points, the structure, and the flow of your presentation.
Organize Your Notes: Use cue cards or an outline to help you remember the main points. Highlight key phrases or concepts that are essential to your speech.
Practice Out Loud

Rehearse Verbally: Speak out loud as if you are presenting to an audience. This helps you get used to the sound of your own voice and the rhythm of your speech.
Use a Mirror: Practice in front of a mirror to observe your body language and facial expressions. Ensure your non-verbal communication is consistent with your message.
Record Yourself
Video Recording: Record your practice sessions with a camera or smartphone. Watch the recordings to identify areas for improvement in your delivery, gestures, and posture.
Audio Recording: Recording just your voice can help you focus on your vocal delivery, including pace, tone, and clarity.
Get Feedback

Practice with Friends or Family: Present your speech to friends or family members and ask for constructive feedback.
Join a Group: If possible, join a public speaking group like Toastmasters where you can practice in front of an audience and receive feedback.
Simulate the Environment

Practice in the Venue: If you can, practice in the actual venue where you will be presenting. Familiarize yourself with the space, the podium, and any equipment you will use.
Use Visual Aids: Practice with any slides, props, or other visual aids you plan to use. Ensure you know how to operate them smoothly.
Focus on Timing

Time Your Speech: Use a timer to ensure your speech fits within the allotted time. Adjust your content as needed to avoid running over or under time.
Pace Yourself: Practice speaking at a steady pace. Avoid rushing through your speech; instead, speak clearly and deliberately.
Refine Your Delivery

Work on Intonation: Vary your pitch and tone to keep the audience engaged. Avoid monotony by emphasizing key points and using expressive speech.
Pause for Effect: Use pauses strategically to emphasize points and give your audience time to absorb information.
Manage Nervousness

Practice Relaxation Techniques: Use deep breathing, visualization, or other relaxation techniques to manage anxiety.
Positive Visualization: Imagine yourself giving a successful speech and receiving positive feedback.
Review and Revise
Continuous Improvement: After each practice session, review your performance and make necessary adjustments. Focus on areas where you feel less confident.
Adapt Based on Feedback: Incorporate the feedback you receive from others to improve your speech.
Practice Regularly
Consistent Practice: Rehearse regularly leading up to the presentation day. Consistency helps build confidence and reduces last-minute anxiety.

Thanks for reading.

HOW TO PREPARE AND PRACTICE YOUR SPEECH?

1) How to understand and research the topic?

Understanding and researching a topic effectively involves several steps, from initial comprehension to deep exploration. Here’s a structured approach to guide you:

1. Initial Understanding

a. Define the Topic: Clearly articulate what the topic is about. Write down the main question or thesis statement.

b. Background Reading: Start with general sources like encyclopedias (Wikipedia, Britannica) to get an overview.

Identify key concepts, terms, and related subtopics.

2. Gather Information

a. Identify Reliable Sources: Academic journals, books, and reputable websites.

Government and educational institution websites.

b. Use Library Resources: Access academic databases like JSTOR, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc.

Consult librarians for resource recommendations.

c. Online Research: Use advanced search techniques to find specific information.

Verify the credibility of online sources by checking author credentials and publication reputation.

3. Deep Exploration

a. Read and Annotate: Read materials critically, making notes and highlighting important points.

Identify the arguments, evidence, and methodologies used.

b. Synthesize Information: Compare different sources and viewpoints.

Look for patterns, contradictions, and gaps in the information.

c. Organize Findings: Create outlines or mind maps to structure your understanding.

Group related ideas and note how they connect to your main topic.

4. Analysis and Critical Thinking

a. Evaluate Arguments: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments.

Consider the validity, reliability, and bias of the sources.

b. Develop Your Perspective: Formulate your own opinion or thesis based on the evidence.

Be prepared to revise your perspective as you uncover more information.

5. Writing and Presentation

a. Drafting: Write a clear introduction stating your thesis or main question.

Develop body paragraphs that present evidence and analysis logically.

Conclude by summarizing your findings and stating the implications.

b. Cite Sources: Use proper citation styles to credit your sources.

Include a bibliography or works cited page.

2) What are the methods of preparation of a public speech?

Preparing a public speech involves several steps to ensure the speech is well-organized, engaging, and effectively delivered. Here are the key methods:

1. Understand Your Audience

Research Your Audience: Know the demographics, interests, and knowledge level of your audience.

Tailor Your Message: Adjust the content and language of your speech to suit the audience’s preferences and expectations.

2. Define the Purpose

Clarify the Objective: Determine whether your speech is meant to inform, persuade, entertain, or motivate.

Set Goals: Establish specific goals you want to achieve with your speech.

3. Conduct Research

Gather Information: Collect relevant facts, statistics, anecdotes, and examples to support your points.

Verify Sources: Ensure the information comes from credible and reliable sources.

4. Organize Your Content

Create an Outline: Structure your speech with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction: Grab attention with a strong opening, such as a quote, question, or story. Introduce your main points.

Body: Develop your main points with evidence and examples. Ensure logical flow and clear transitions between points.

Conclusion: Summarize the main points and end with a memorable closing statement.

5. Write the Speech

Draft the Speech: Write the full text based on your outline, paying attention to language, tone, and style.

Edit and Revise: Refine the draft to improve clarity, coherence, and impact. Remove any unnecessary content.

6. Practice Delivery

Rehearse Aloud: Practice delivering the speech multiple times to get comfortable with the content and timing.

Use a Mirror or Record Yourself: Observe your body language and facial expressions. Adjust for natural and engaging delivery.

Seek Feedback: Present your speech to a friend or family member and ask for constructive feedback.

4) How to take care of your body language while making a speech to a large audience?

Taking care of your body language while making a speech to a large audience is crucial for effective communication. Here are some key tips:

1. Maintain Good Posture
Stand Tall: Keep your back straight, shoulders back, and head held high. This conveys confidence and authority.
Balanced Stance: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart to appear grounded and stable.

2. Use Hand Gestures Purposefully
Emphasize Points: Use hand movements to underscore important points. For example, open palms can suggest openness and honesty.

Avoid Overuse: Too many gestures can be distracting. Aim for natural movements that complement your words.

3. Facial Expressions
Be Expressive: Use your face to convey emotions appropriate to your speech. Smiling can help establish a connection, while a serious expression can underscore important points.

Avoid Tension: Relax your facial muscles to avoid looking tense or nervous.

4. Eye Contact
Engage with the Audience: Make eye contact with different parts of the audience to create a sense of connection. Avoid focusing on a single spot or person. Practice the “Z” Pattern: Move your gaze in a “Z” pattern across the audience to ensure everyone feels included.

5. Movement and Space
Purposeful Movement: Move around the stage or space if possible, but do so purposefully. Avoid pacing or shifting nervously.

5) How to engage your audience and ensure that they are fully attentive?

Engaging an audience and ensuring their full attention requires a combination of strategies that appeal to their interests, maintain their focus, and encourage interaction. Here are some effective methods to achieve this:

1. Understand Your Audience
Know Their Interests: Tailor your content to the interests and needs of your audience. Research their demographics, preferences, and pain points.

Set Clear Objectives: Clearly define what you want your audience to take away from your presentation or content.

2. Start Strong
Captivating Opening: Begin with a compelling story, an interesting fact, or a thought-provoking question to grab attention immediately.

Visual Impact: Use visually appealing slides, props, or multimedia to create a strong initial impression.

3. Use Engaging Content
Tell Stories: People are naturally drawn to stories. Use anecdotes and real-life examples to illustrate your points.

Incorporate Multimedia: Use videos, images, and graphics to make your content more dynamic and visually stimulating.

Interactive Elements: Include polls, quizzes, or live demonstrations to keep the audience involved.

4. Vary Your Delivery
Change Your Tone and Pace: Avoid monotony by varying your tone, volume, and speaking pace to maintain interest.

Body Language: Use expressive body language and eye contact to convey enthusiasm and connect with your audience.

Movement: Move around the stage or room to engage different parts of the audience and create a more dynamic presence.

5. Encourage Participation
Ask Questions: Pose questions to the audience to encourage them to think and respond.

Interactive Activities: Incorporate activities like group discussions, brainstorming sessions, or hands-on exercises.

Feedback Opportunities: Provide opportunities for the audience to ask questions or provide feedback during and after the presentation.

Thanks for reading.

BODY LANGUAGE

What is body language?

Body language is a form of non-verbal communication a lot of information. Body language includes gestures facial expressions I contact, and even the tone of the voice. Body language gives a lot of information to the audience. In fact it enhances the speech and often emphasises the points which Speaker wants to make. When the Speaker wants to express himself or herself clearly and effectively body language lends a helping hand. Therefore it’s necessary for the speakers to understand the body language as well as the practice of the language should be their mandate.
Positive body language is critical for your confidence and for giving your presence felt. standing tall using open gestures and maintaining eye contact makes you make you appear more confident and assertive which in turn can influence how others perceive your personality.

Building relationships
good body language can help you to build a rapport with your listeners and establish connection with others. You can be on the same page to influence people you will sound more trustworthy with a positive body language. It in its facilitates better communication and augments relationship building.

Helps creating an impression
Whether it’s a professional situation or you are conversing to a group of friends your body language definitely helps you to create a better impression. Authentic and genuine expression body language can foster better understanding and deeper connections with others.

Enhances self-awareness
When you pay good attention to create your own positivity with the body language it also helps you in self-awareness. It allows you to recognise your conduct and behaviour. It also helps you to make adjustments as they will be needed to improve your interaction with others and overall personality
Insured body language is a powerful tool for communication, relationship building and self-expression. Being mindful of your body language can contribute to the development of a good personality by a nursing your communication skills, building confidence and fostering meaningful connections with others.

PublicSpeaking and body language.
The role of body language in PublicSpeaking is critical. Holding high head straight back and avoiding drooping shoulders gives a very impressive picture of yours to the audience. It enhances your confidence and also your credibility. you are able to maintain good eye contact with the audience whether it is one person or it’s a group of people or you are speaking on from the stage. It also helps you to use your gestures and gestures and facial expressions to enhance your communication.

what is the ideal posture?

The ideal posture is one where your body is properly aligned in a balanced position promoting optimal health and minimising strain on muscles and joints. Some suggestions are as below.
Keep your feet shoulder with apart distribute your body weight evenly on both feet straight line from your ears through your shoulders hips knees and down to your ankles. Tuck in your chin slightly and keep head aligned with your spine. Relax your shoulders and keep them Old back forward avoid leaning to one side or oscillating from 1 foot to another
While sitting sit back in your chair properly supported keeping your spine straight and head upright on the shoulders.

How to maintain eye contact with the audience?

It’s critical that you maintain a good eye contact with your audience. You don’t have to fix your gaze on one or two persons you have to scan the entire room so that we entire audience feels that you are with them. Hold attention with appropriate VoiceModulation. and face gestures.

What is the ideal movement on the stage?

The ideal movement on the stage depends on various factors such as context of the performance the style of your presentation and the mix of the audience. Movement should be purposeful. Don’t go for the sake of moving but advancing or getting back or going to one direction or the other if it is done with deliberation the same can be very effective.

How to use body language to emphasise an article that further the points that you are making in the speech?

As has been detailed above use your hand gestures to further illustrate your concepts for example if you are talking about size of size of something you can use your hands to indicate it scale. Likewise facial expressions also convey range of emotions. Spiling following or brown or raising your eyebrow can help you emphasise the tone and importance of what you are saying. Likewise your posture gives dignity and grace your presence on the stage. In short body language must be properly understood By the public speaker and he or she must use it to their advantage.

Thanks for reading.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

Public Speaking

What is PublicSpeaking? Your ability to communicate to an audience whatever you have in mind clearly and effectively insured is PublicSpeaking. However, it must be understood that the elements of good PublicSpeaking or also this is Siri for your good conversational skills. Thus unless you are able to communicate clearly and effectively it becomes difficult for you to build relationship and influence people.

What are the main elements of PublicSpeaking?

Cicero said the most important thing is that you should know your audience. You should know their likes and dislikes. You should know what is the desired outcome that they need. Cicero said it in three words: ethos pathos and logos, ethos refers to your credibility or your status to speak on that particular subject for which you have invited you have an invite. Pathos is of course the need of the audience he said earlier you must understand audience and what they expect of you. Logos is how you construct your arguments and how you deliver so that there is Takeaway and people feel that the time they have spent with you is worth it.
Thus, clarity in speech, effective modulation so that you are aware able to hold the attention of the people, understanding the response of the audience from the stage to keep them well-connected are the few things you must concentrate upon. You can carry out above by working on the subject, practising and developing your communication skills.

One might ask what are the benefits of developing public speaking skills. This has been the concern of people from times immemorial. The simple answer to this question is: (a) to influence people, (b) to convince them of your views, and (c) to impress them in any kind of interviews. If you have something to say and you are committed and you feel that it is good for the society which you want to serve, there is nothing like developing the area of public speaking. Effective communication on the subject to the desired audience makes public speaking critically important. This has been so in the past. This is so now and it will remain so in future times to come.

Why should a leader must be a good public speaker? Or even a person who wants to grow and be highly successful?

Being a good public speaker is essential for a leader for several reasons which are listed below:

Effective communication is primary means through which leaders express their vision strategies and inspire their team to follow the same. They can motivate only if they are enthusiastic and good public speakers. Another important point is that they have to build the trust. Trust can be built only with effective communication which should be also be honest is delivered confidently.
A great leader definitely possesses a Charisma which depends on how committed and honest he is to what he is expressing we have seen that great leaders over the world have been spending a lot of time and they have been practising the important speeches. It has been said that John Kennedy who is reckoned as one of the most effective speakers spent six months creating his inaugural speech. This inaugural speech of John F. Kennedy is recognised as one of the finest speeches in the world.

What is the importance of good public speaking skills in modern times?

A big public speaking event or a presentation where you have been invited to address certain group of people for a course is of utmost importance. It requires great public speaking ability.

Networking is very important today.In the business environment you should be excellent in conversational skills. Above all, good conversation requires all the qualities of a good public speaker but of course with the difference that it is more intimate and does not require the rhetoric which helps the public speaker on the stage. Besides people who go for interviews we have to communicate very well and that also requires it that public speaking ability.

Insured public speaking is critical for a person to grow in his career and be a successful person.

Thanks for reading.

Critical Thinking Definition, Skills, and Examples

What is critical thinking? Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment. It involves the evaluation of sources, such as data, facts, observable phenomena, and research findings.

Good critical thinkers can draw reasonable conclusions from a set of information, and discriminate between useful and less useful details to solve problems or make decisions.

Why Do Employers Value Critical Thinking Skills?

Employers want job candidates who can evaluate a situation using logical thought and offer the best solution.FEATURED VIDEO

Someone with critical thinking skills can be trusted to make decisions independently, and will not need constant handholding.

Critical thinking abilities are among the most sought-after skills in almost every industry and workplace.2 You can demonstrate critical thinking by using related keywords in your resume and cover letter, and during your interview.

Examples of Critical Thinking

The circumstances that demand critical thinking vary from industry to industry. Some examples include:

A triage nurse analyzes the cases at hand and decides the order by which the patients should be treated.
A plumber evaluates the materials that would best suit a particular job.
An attorney reviews evidence and devises a strategy to win a case or to decide whether to settle out of court.
A manager analyzes customer feedback forms and uses this information to develop a customer service training session for employees.

Promote Your Skills in Your Job Search

If critical thinking is a key phrase in the job listings you are applying for, be sure to emphasize your critical thinking skills throughout your job search.

Add Keywords to Your Resume

You can use critical thinking keywords (analytical, problem solving, creativity, etc.) in your resume. When describing your work history, include any of the skills listed below that accurately describe you. You can also include them in your resume summary, if you have one.

For example, your summary might read, “Marketing Associate with five years of experience in project management. Skilled in conducting thorough market research and competitor analysis to assess market trends and client needs, and to develop appropriate acquisition tactics.”

Mention Skills in Your Cover Letter

Include these critical thinking skills in your cover letter. In the body of your letter, mention one or two of these skills, and give specific examples of times when you have demonstrated those skills at work. Think about times when you had to analyze or evaluate materials to solve a problem.

Show the Interviewer Your Skills

You can use these skill words in an interview. Discuss a time when you were faced with a particular problem or challenge at work and explain how you applied critical thinking to solve it.

Some interviewers will give you a hypothetical scenario or problem, and ask you to use critical thinking skills to solve it. In this case, explain your thought process thoroughly to the interviewer. He or she is typically more focused on how you arrive at your solution rather than the solution itself. The interviewer wants to see you use analysis and evaluation (key parts of critical thinking) approach to the given scenario or problem.

Of course, each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job description carefully and focus on the skills listed by the employer.

Top Critical Thinking Skills

Analysis

Part of critical thinking is the ability to carefully examine something, whether it is a problem, a set of data, or a text. People with analytical skills can examine information, understand what it means, and properly explain to others the implications of that information.

Asking Thoughtful Questions
Data Analysis
Research
Interpretation
Judgment
Questioning Evidence
Recognizing Patterns
Skepticism

Communication

Often, you will need to share your conclusions with your employers or with a group of colleagues. You need to be able to communicate with others to share your ideas effectively. You might also need to engage critical thinking in a group. In this case, you will need to work with others and communicate effectively to figure out solutions to complex problems.

Active Listening
Assessment
Collaboration
Explanation
Interpersonal
Presentation
Teamwork
Verbal Communication
Written Communication

Creativity

Critical thinking often involves creativity and innovation. You might need to spot patterns in the information you are looking at or come up with a solution that no one else has thought of before. All of this involves a creative eye that can take a different approach from all other approaches.

Flexibility
Conceptualization
Curiosity
Imagination
Drawing Connections
Inferring
Predicting
Synthesizing
Vision

Open-Mindedness

To think critically, you need to be able to put aside any assumptions or judgments and merely analyze the information you receive. You need to be objective, evaluating ideas without bias.

Diversity
Fairness
Humility
Inclusive
Objectivity
Observation
Reflection

Problem Solving

Problem solving is another critical thinking skill that involves analyzing a problem, generating and implementing a solution, and assessing the success of the plan. Employers don’t simply want employees who can think about information critically. They also need to be able to come up with practical solutions.

Attention to Detail
Clarification
Decision Making
Evaluation
Groundedness
Identifying Patterns
Innovation

More Critical Thinking Skills

Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Compliance
Noticing Outliers
Adaptability
Emotional Intelligence
Brainstorming
Optimization
Restructuring
Integration
Strategic Planning
Project Management
Ongoing Improvement
Causal Relationships
Case Analysis
Diagnostics
SWOT Analysis
Business Intelligence
Quantitative Data Management
Qualitative Data Management
Metrics
Accuracy
Risk Management
Statistics
Scientific Method
Consumer Behavior

Key Takeaways

Add Relevant Skills to Your Resume: Demonstrate critical thinking by using keywords related to your skills in your resume.

Highlight Skills in Your Cover Letter: Mention some of these skills in your cover letter, and include an example of a time when you demonstrated them at work.

Use Skill Words in Your Job Interview: Discuss a time when you were faced with a challenge at work and explain how you applied critical thinking to solve it.

Site URL: https://www.thoughtco.com/critical-thinking-definition-with-examples-2063745

This article was published on June 8 2020.

Critical Thinking is one of 10 life skills which hqas been identified by UNESCO. The other skills are:

Problem Solving
Effective Communication
Decision Making
Creative Making
Interpersonal Relationship skills
Self Awareness
Empathy
Copping with Stress
Copping with Emotions.

Poor Communications Is Destructive!

What is communication? How can we define it? First of all let’s understand it’s origin and it’s meaning. Communication is derived from the Latin word “communis” meaning to share something or hold in common. Communication can be defined in following ways:

Communication is the process of exchanging information, ideas, thoughts, speech, signals, writing or behavior.

First, let’s try to answer the most pertinent management question. What is important in motivating people, forming a successful team, getting all your work done? Answer is simple. Successful communication skills! It demands efforts, it needs motivation. Motivational speaker, Tony Robin stated that for effective communication we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive. So we must respect each other’s perspective, then only we would lead to a successful communication.

Arguing is not communication. It is noise. But responding without understanding is also not communication. We all have our own choice to say yes or no. That choice is the medium of communication. If you express that answer politely then only you can have an effective communication. “You should know how to present your point in front of others. There should be no chance of confusion with you.”

Winston Churchill said “it is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip”. If you qualify telling even rude words in such a way that they turn to as good words for the listener than you are the master of communication. This is how communication impacts the world.

In today’s fast going world one needs to understand the importance of connecting with others and the ways to do so. Most of us take the meaning of word communication as verbal conversation. Does it mean only verbal communication? No, it’s half the statement.

Communication can be verbal, nonverbal or the body language. It simply states that in today’s world what is said is important but what is not said is equally important, Even the hidden objective is taken into consideration. Communication skills are of more importance than anything else, as it holds the personality of a person.

As the old saying goes “there is a large difference in the word ‘having something to say and having to say something’.” They look similar but meaning of both is different.

Content, being the king in communication, plays a major role in changing the whole personality. Here again who takes the hold of audience or the listeners? More patient the audience more is your benefit. But understanding audience is critical. They can understand even what you have not spoken. You might be thinking what is the difference? Difference is as clear as the crystal which needs lot of practice.

The one who understands what you have not spoken is living in the present. He is there with his mind and soul in what you are doing. Your communication skills including verbal, nonverbal and your body language play a vital role here. So if the listener is impressed by your communication skills then only he will be active in the process and further interaction or communication is possible.

It’s not one way process. It is open and two way path. It can be either the speaker affects the listeners by asking questions, seeing to his body language or understanding him/her, can be the other way round also. Again a question arises on the lifestyle which you are living. Are you satisfied with it? Is your concentration level upto the mark to meet the present day requirement? Or you are still in some dreams while a lecture or another topic has started?

Today’s requirement demands near 100% accuracy and concentration for a wonderful and beneficial communication. The famous Management Consultant, Peter Drucker has stated that most important thing in communication does, understand what is not said. Observing this way, you can understand the full concept of what is being spoken. Hence communication is not defined by its effectiveness but the response of effectiveness. Audience plays a major role no matter it is one or many. Until and unless communication serves the purpose of the listeners, it is of no use.

A well said quote will completely set your minds to it. “Communication is dream more – compare less, listen more – talk less, love more – argue less, hope more – fear less, relax more – worry less, believe more – complain less, play more – work less.”

These quotes can be taken as the steps to a successful communication. Author of the book ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’, Stephen Covey has well said that often people have character strength but they lack communication skills. And that affects the quality of relationships. Generation gap is the best example to support the above statement.

Communication must not be complicated. It may not use very extensive vocabulary, it may be as simple but as clear as possible. If ideas are not drawn into action, they just turn to be simple paper work. Only with the help of communication skills ideas can turn the dreams to a reality.

Thanks for reading

Change Management

“People are always blaming circumstances for what they are. I do not believe in circumstances. The people who get on in the world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they don’t find them, they make them!”
These words of George Bearnard Shaw are more relevant today than ever before. In the continuous changing society, it is imperative to rely on knowledge, process and technology – all three to keep pace with the change. Leaders must keep in mind the following aspects for effectively ensuring and properly implementing change in the organisations they lead. These are:

1. Innovation: The leader should have the the ability to innovate. This requires imagination, knowledge and perspective, and a thorough understanding of the organisation he leads.

Classifications of Personal Involvement – DH101: Fall 2014

2. Personal Involvement: It is necessary for the leader to be personally involved for the efficacy of the strategy to bring about change. He can not carry out the same by proxy.

3. The Leader should know what needs to be done in general, though not in detail. This should be true at every stage of change management.

4. The Leader must be able to deal with ambiguity and be willing to take the required risks. Not taking any risks is the biggest risk.

5. Above all, the leader must understand and correctly assess how much the organisation can change and at what speed.
Satish Kakri, Director – Nimble Foundation

7 Steps for Self Development!

Why Self-Development is so important today?

In the competitive environment of modern times it’s necessary to continuously enhance your skill. In today’s life the modern man finds himself trapped in a concrete jungle, living a rat race. This is a life full of stress, tensions and anxieties to be the star performer at the workplace, and to be perceived as an ideal son, husband and father at home.
In this continuing madness, he tends to loose his sense of self and finds himself loosing control over his live, powerless as he is to take corrective and remedial action. Such inability to do what is right and bring things back on track is largely caused by the lack of realization of what is wrong and what needs to be done.
The answer to this problem is Self Development.
But what is self-development? As the term suggested it is bringing about all round improvement in one’s own self. A plain dictionary meaning of the term by itself would bring cold comfort to someone who really needs self-development.
We therefore need to understand what self-development is by understanding what it implies. Self-development can be best understood by examining its components. These are enumerated one by one:

Self-awareness
Self-knowledge
Communication
Self potential
Health – physical and psychological
Social status
Social relations
Personality

1. Self-awareness: What is self-awareness?
Self awareness is the understanding of where one finds himself. What does he considers as his duty every moment of the day? How is he supposed to utilize each waking moment of his time? What should he say? How and to whom? A high sense of self awareness is seen in person who is proactive in thought, alert in mind and body and energetic in action. Such is person stays ahead in every situation. It’s necessary to improve self-awareness to meet the daily challenges.

2. Self-knowledge:
Self-knowledge flows from self-awareness. Improving self-knowledge should be a continuous activity. It enables a person to truly understand himself – his role and contribution to society. Self-knowledge is also a self-appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of the personality and character on an ongoing basis. Self-knowledge is also the knowledge of the inner universe of an individual – the knowledge of which is vital to successfully navigate your life in the society.

3. Communication is of critical importance.
Communication is the vehicle for building social relations. This was true in the days when technology and internet did not exist; but is has become even more true today when we are living in a deeply interconnected world. Communication has various aspects these are:

Thoughts and Ideas: Communication originates in the mind in the form of a thought which is translated into an idea to be expressed. A creative mind is fertile ground for positive expression, whereas a negative mind is minefield of hate filled negative communication.

Voice & Speech: The voice represents the emotion and the level of self-confidence of the individual. The speech represents the spoken words manifested by the eloquence or lack of it in expressing the ideas of the mind.

Morale, Self-confidence & Self Esteem, These have an impact on your communication.
What is morale? A high morale refers to a very positive state of mind of a person which is ever challenged into seeking increasing difficult tasks to achieve. Low morale represents the opposite where all round pessimism pervades; and where procrastination and dreariness are the norm.
An individual’s morale depends upon his self-confidence. The self-confidence in turn depends upon the self-esteem of the individual. A person with low sense of self-esteem has little self-confidence to do the simplest of tasks, while claiming both ownership and responsibility for the same. On the other hand a person with a high sense of self-esteem always lunges forward, taking bold and calculated risks. Such a person always stretches himself in a quest to continuously improve his productivity, and sense of self-fulfillment in his life and in his work. Building or renewing identity is very important, today.

4. Potential needs to be fully explored. That is the first step for fulfilling aspirations.
Each one of us has a latent, immense and untapped potential which sadly few of us achieve. The main reason for remaining underachievers is equally to lack of self-belief in our potential as also the knowledge that such a potential even exists. Self-development really starts where we become aware of our immense potential and start taking positive steps to tap it and creatively utilize it.

5. Good Health plays an important role in all aspects of life.
Health has two aspects – physical and psychological. Good health commonly is commonly understood only as a state where the body remains free from ailments. There is general ignorance about the impact of an healthy mind (free of negative thoughts and emotions) on the physical health of an individual. It is often said a fit mind in a fit body. However, the reverse is equally true – a fit mind ensures that the body remains fit and free from many ‘lifestyle’ diseases.

6. Social Status and Social Relation:
Development of the social status refers to the upward move of individual on the social ladder. The craving for a high social status is considered the highest of the famous Manslow’s personal self actualization hierarchy. A high social status represents his desire for self actualization. Maslow describes this level as the desire to accomplish everything that one can, to become the most that one can be.
Social relations determine the social status of a person. At the same time the person’s social status also determines his social relations. Development of the ability to develop social relations gives an individual the power to increase his ever widening circle of social contacts. This in turn enhances his power, his prestige, sense of self worth and most importantly his social status.

7. Create a Power Packed Personality:
Personality Development seems to be the buzz word these days. While everyone likes to talk about it, few seem to truly understand. Development of one’s personality is more than adherence to a mere set of guidelines to be followed in terms of dos and don’ts. Personality has several important components that need to be understood and developed. These include:

Posture: An erect posture signifies confidence, a positive forthright attitude, and a fit body that consciously receives large amount s of life giving oxygen into the lungs.

Body Language: This represents the non verbal communication that translates and conveys more than 80% of the message and is often more important than the spoken words.

Thoughts and self-belief: Each individual creates his own universe through self-belief about himself and thoughts about others. Such thoughts and self beliefs either fashion a mind full of prejudice, hate and envy at the negative level or love, empathy and positivity on the other.

Attitude: It is said our attitude determines our altitude. Development of the attitude involves moving away from being negative about persons, and events and seeing some good in everything perceived as bad.

The above stated aspects of self development are by no means an exhaustive list of what one must do for oneself. At the same, these are not water tight compartments that need to be looked in isolation. Often development of a single area can have greater than proportionate effect in other areas. So what one essentially needs to do it to focus and try to better understand each and consciously inculcate the habit to bring about self improvements howsoever small for the overall objective of self development.
Each of these areas will be covered in detail in forthcoming presentations.

Thanks for reading.

How to become a motivational speaker?

You must have a passion and identify it clearly!

1. Develop your passion by doing all what it takes. Strong Passion alone will make a strong Foundation.

Motivational speakers can deliver presentations and speeches on any topic. However, what counts is your passion for the subject you are addressing. Become a motivational speaker by identifying your message and your audience, brushing up on your public speaking skills and promoting your speaking abilities.
Motivational speakers don’t have to complete a specific degree or training program to prepare for their careers, but they must have a unique perspective to share and a talent for communicating and engaging with an audience. Successful speakers recommend starting out by developing your unique idea or passion. Determine what expertise, experiences, and perspectives you can share, and what type of audience can benefit the most from it. While you may have expertise and experience to share on a specific topic, you may still need to do some independent research or talk with other experts to build a stronger base of knowledge in your field.

2. Content is the King. Never undermine its importance! The internet gives you opportunities to test your content before you get on stage. Most people, however, worry that no one will hire them if they give away their best stuff for free.
But if you inspire thousands–or perhaps even millions–of people online, you’ll attract attention and people will want to hear more from you.

3. Innovation is the key for developing new ideas!

You won’t become a successful public speaker by rehashing old ideas in the same way as everyone else. You need to develop fresh, relevant content that people want to hear.
Invest a lot of time into thinking about your message and how you can deliver it in a way that will inspire, motivate, and captivate an audience.
Identify Your Ideal Audience

It can be tempting to think your message will resonate with everyone. But, the truth is, a message that’s too generic won’t leave a big impact on anyone.
So rather than decide you’re going to speak about sales or that you’re going to motivate all business leaders, narrow down your niche. Identify the types of groups who you really want to reach so you can create content that will resonate with them.
Understand the people you will target as audience members before you get too far into the development of your career. Different groups of people need to be communicated with in different ways.

4. A story which is relavant to your statement adds colour to the picture!

Humans relate to stories. We connect to stories. Funny stories. Sad stories. Inspirational stories. We love stories. So tell them. Lots of them. Stories will keep your audience engaged and are also easier for you to memorize.
Gain Speaking Skills Having good content is only part of the battle. The way you deliver your message is more important than the words you use.
Even if you think you’re a rock star speaker already, there’s a good chance you have some bad habits (from swaying back and forth while you talk to using filler words like “um” more than you know).
Join a public speaking group, take a college communications class, or hire a speaking coach to help you develop better communication habits. A few little tweaks to your delivery can make or break your career as a speaker.
Also, record yourself giving a speech and watch it back. It can be painful to watch yourself but it’s important to learn more about your hand gestures, body language, and speaking habits so you can improve.

5. Humour is the spice of life, but it also plays the role of salt while Speaking in Public!

You don’t have to be a comedian to become a motivational speaker, but humor makes a massive difference. Humor works to endear you to an audience, but it’s also a big differentiating factor in the speaking market. Many of the top speakers in the industry use humor in their talks.

6. Let the audience also participate; Allow the audience a chance to laugh!

When you tell a joke or deliver a punch line, give the audience time to laugh. Sometimes speakers like to rush to the next point, but don’t do that. You need to give the audience a chance to respond to what you just said (in this case to laugh), but also if you rush on to the next though while the room is still laughing, nobody will hear what you’re saying.

7. Create the demand for your niche, if it is not in demand!

Once you feel like you have a talk ready to go, start marketing yourself. Build a website that shows you’re a speaker. Add “speaker” to your social media profiles.
Tell everyone you know that you’re looking for speaking engagements. Word of mouth is often a key factor in getting speaking engagements.
Keep releasing content too. Blog about your ideas, guest post on popular sites, make videos, or write a book. Release your ideas into the world so you can gain credibility as an expert.
Event planners will want to see you in action as they make decisions about who to hire to speak, so at some point, you’ll want to create a demo reel that showcases you as a speaker. It may contain footage of you from several speeches, clips of you in the media, or audience reviews of your performance.

8. Knock many doors and finally you will be welcomed!

Early on in your speaking career, you may need to apply for speaking gigs. Be on the lookout for conferences, conventions, and gigs.
Find other speakers with a similar message and see where they’re speaking. You might reach out to event organizers and ask them to keep you in mind for future events.
The more your speaking career grows, the less you’ll need to apply for speaking opportunities. Eventually, people will seek you out.
And if you’re doing well, speaker bureaus will want to represent you and they’ll proactively market you as a speaker for events. They’ll take a percentage of your fee, but they can help you obtain higher paying gigs.

9. The word FREE has a great pull. Offer to speak for Free!

Once you have your content ready to go and you’re comfortable speaking to an audience, offer to speak for free. Reach out to local organizations who may benefit from your content.
There are many conferences around the country who don’t pay speakers (some of them offer free admission to speakers). Apply to speak for them to help you gain practice speaking to a live audience.
Some people do a handful of free speaking engagements before they feel equipped to look for paid gigs while others speak at a few dozen events before they feel comfortable charging. But be prepared to speak for free until you’re in-demand.

Thanks for reading.

How to Develop a Power Packed Personality?

Six Aspects of Personality Never to be Ignored!

Hi,
Today I’ll talk to you about 6 critical aspects of one’s personality. There should never be ignored. Which are the six characteristics that define a successful person?

1. Take care of your Physical Appearance.

How do you look? How you carry yourself and the clothes that you wear. These are important. Your posture, the body language and your smile are even more important. Practice and rehearse your smile for different situations. This may appear silly. But it is not. We might not be born with beautiful look, but we can always try our best to look better than how we are now. Here are some tips that will affect your appearance greatly and help you to improve your physical appearance.

Drink a lot of Water.

Get Enough Sleep.

Eat Healthy And Nutritious Food.

Exercise Regularly.

2. After physical appearance, you must Develop a Positive Attitude.

Overcome all negative assumptions. First you have to identify these negative assumptions and then throw this art. An open mind without preconceived notions, alone can breed a positive attitude. A positive attitude is an optimistic mindset that focuses on the good. Here are some ways to develop a positive attitude.

Surround yourself with positive people. Fill your mind with positive input. Control your language. Be nice to other people.

3. Importance of communications skills should not be undermined. Third point to be emphasized is about your Communications-Skills both verbal & written. Regarding verbal, you must ensure that you sport a reasonable cordiality at all times. A smile on your face and a desire to be cordial will do the trick. Your voice quality and modulation while speaking are also very important for the efficacy of your communications. Being able to communicate effectively is perhaps the most important of all life skills. It is what enables us to pass information to other people, and to understand what is said to us.

4. Inter personal skills are very important.

Fourth notable characteristic of personality is competence in interpersonal skills. It’s necessary to be adept in interpersonal skills. Today, more than ever before. On can achieve progress only with the help and co-operation of others. That makes if necessary that we build good relations with all concerned. It so one must develop the required capacity to build good relations. People with strong interpersonal skills are often more successful in both their professional and personal lives. Interpersonal skills include a wide variety of skills, though many are centered around communication, such as listening, questioning and understanding body language. They also include the skills and attributes associated with emotional intelligence, or being able to understand and manage your own and others’ emotions.

5. Manage Time Adeptly.

Fifth distinctive feature of a successful personality is time management. Little can be achieved by anyone if his/her time is out managed productively. Only when you are and time wise you achieve something significant. Otherwise you are left behind. Growth and progress are no longer linear. They are exponential. So it’s imperative to make the best use of limited time available to us. he ability to manage your time effectively is important. Good time management leads to improved efficiency and productivity, less stress, and more success in life. Here are some benefits of managing time effectively:

Stress Relief.

More Time.

More Opportunities.

Ability to Realize Goals.

6. Writing down goals, Planning & Achieving.

Finally & the sixth distinctive quality of personality is about your goals, focus & perspective. Success can be achieved only by consistently making efforts toward realization of your goals. This can happen with your focus on what is required to be done. Perspective must not be allowed to be prejudiced. Any circumstances or situations should not impact your desire & ability to pursue your goals.

Thanks for reading.